Viscosimeter



Oct. 13, 1925.

F. P. ZIMMERLI VIscdsIMETER 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30-; 1925 tionswhose composition is- Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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Application filed July 80, 1923. Serial- 1T0. 654,673.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ P. ZIMMERLI, acitizen of the United States,residin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michi an, haveinvented certain new claimed, with the understanding that the severalnecessary elements comprising my invention, may varied in construction,proportions and arrangement, without doand usefu Improvements inViscosimeters,

of whichfthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in testingapparatus, and more articularly to mechanism for indicating t ethickness or thinness of liquids containing'matter' in solution, or ofsolued substances or whose body consists of heavy slow moving particlessuch as possess great vicosity.

Heretofore meters for measuring the viscosity of fluids have been whatmight be partin fromthe spirit and scope of the appende claims.

In orderto make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe acfree of 'suspendtermed laboratory meters, that is 'to say,

meters which give samples of the material undergoing test. The devicewhichI' have invented is'what'might be termed 'a c0ntinuousviscosimeter, that is to say,the liquid in its process 0t manufacturemay be. continuou'sly run into my machine at one. end and out at theother end during the entire run with the absolute certainty thatmeasurement for viscosity is for the entire period.

The viscosity meter illustrated is mounted upon a board intended to behung or otherwise suspended upon the wall, and is' particularlyadaptable to determining the viscosity of oils, enamels, greases, etc.,and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a device in whichthe introduction of companying drawings means for carrying the sameintopractical eflt'ect without limitmg the. 1mpr vements in their useful.ap-v plications to the particular. constructions, which for the purposeof explanation, have 'been made the sub ect. of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improveddevice complete;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

.- Fig. 3 is an vend view looking from the.

right side of my device F1g.- 4 is a sectional of Fig.1; -and View onthe line 4-4 Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 Similarreference characters indicate the same or corresponding arts throughoutthe several figures of'the rawings.

The numeral .1 indicates a container or beaker, preferably of steel orother, suitable the liquid into the mouth thereof maybe.

made. with as little disturbance as possible. In order to accomplishthis, I provide a series of baflie plates so that after the container orbeaker is partially filled with the liquid to be measured or tested, thecontinuous flow or velocity of the input will produce no effect upon thereading of the scale.

. Another object of my inventionis to provide means for thisthermometric reading of the viscous flow of liquids such as varnish,enamels, lubricating oils, etc, so that" these may be compared withothers at the same or different temperatures.

With these and other objects in. View, which may be incident to myimprovements, the invention iconsists in the parts and combinations 'tobe hereinafter set forth and material, in the upper portion orantechamber 2 of which is inserted an inlet pipe 3 in an opening 4,through which the liquid enters said antechamber, whenceit descends uponthe circular baffle plate 5 attached to the lower side of saidantechamber 2 by meansof depending plates 5' attached there'-.

to. The cover 6 of the container proper is provided at its center 7 withan annular openin is conveyed into the container 1, and on the left handside is provided with. an overflow pipe 8 so as, to hold the head oi?the material constant. The lower portion or bottom 9 of the container isprovided with. a

of a size somewhat smaller than the ba e plate 5 through which theliquid.

short drain pipe 11, screw-threaded at its 1 discharging 15 and 16, bymeans of bolts 17 and 18, a mounting board 19 to which the device isattached.

In filling the container with the material to be tested, it is broughtinto the container through the inlet pipe 3, any excess thereof theremainder flowing through the measuring tube 21? This tube 21 is of thesame size at 22 and at 23, which latter is supported by a bracket,bolted to the mounting board. The U-tube and connections, as seen inFig. 2, are held in place upon the board by the brackets 25 and clampingbolts 26. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the device is provided with athermometer 27, by means of which thermometric readings may be obtainedwhen the material is heated.

The tube 21 is of the same. size at 22 and 23, but the intermediateport-ion 31, 32, 33, as seen in Figure 1, is considerably restricted,especially. at the throat 32. The outlet pipe 21 is provided on itsupper side with outlets 34 and 35 into which are fitted the respectiveends of :1. pi e having outer legs 36 and 37 and innerlegs 38 and 39,with goose necks 41, 42 and. 43, the Whole being united into acontinuous pipe, and between the inner legs is located a gauge dividedinto desired calibrated units (such as Saybolt records for oil orMacMichael units for enamels).

The operation of the device is as follows: The material to be testedisfed into the inlet pipe 3 at such a rate that the container 1 isfilled with a slight excess overflowing through the outlet pipe 8. Theremainder of the liqu'idflows through't-he measuring pipe 21. The-U-tubeis filled with water or other liquid, preferably colored, to the center'of the calibrated scale to be presently described. Due to theconstruction of said I pipeat the throat 32, a" partial vacuum is -sizedthroats may be employed,

formed in the outer ing tube 36on the other side, which is communicatedthrough the goose necks at 41 and 43 respectively to the U-tube and theliquid therein, and the change is noted upon the calibrated scale at45.- r

As thicker materials are placed in the container, the velocity throughthe measuring pipe is, of course, dimihished with less act-ion at thethroat and less disturbance of the measuring fluid. With thinnerliquids, the reverse is true. To meetthis condition, should the materialbe very thick or very thin, measuring tubes with various but forcontinuous work-on definite material, suchis not necessary.

Iiurther, by providing means forascertaining the heat of the liquid, thelubricating qualities thereof may be compared at different temperaturesand also the ,lubriitself through the overflow 8,.

.leg or ascending tube. 37, and a pressure in the outer leg or ascend-.

cating qualities of different liquids may be compared at the sametemperature.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself tothe precise details of construction herein set forth by way ofillustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may bemade therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of the invention, or exceed,- ing the scope of-the appendedclaims.

I claim 1. In a viscosirneter', the combination with a container adaptedt I contain a substance of undetermined viscosity, an inlet pipe in thetopthereof, bafile plates against which the incoming liquid is divertedas it enters the container, and an overflow outlet near the top of thecontainer. for the discharge of the excess orfluid undergoing test,.ofan outlet pipe narrowed at the throat extending laterally from thebottom of the container, at U-tube adjacent thereto, with uring liquidtherein, means connecting the U-tube with the outlet tube, whereby avacuum is produced in one leg of the U- tube and a pressure in the otherleg thereof, and a calibrated scale for registering the differences inthe levels ofthe measuring flulid in the respective branches of the U-tu e. 2. In a VlSCOSlIIlBtBQ'tlIB combination. with a. container adaptedto contain a fluid of undetermined viscosit an inlet pipe, bafile platesagainstwhich the incoming fluid is diverted as it enters the container,and an overflow outlet near the top of the container for the dischargeof the excess of said fluid undergoing test, of an outlet pipe narrowedat its throat extending laterally therefrom near the bottom of thecontainer, a U-tube adjacent thereto with a measuring liquid therein,means connecting. the'U-tube with theoutlet pipe whereby a 'va'cuum isproduced in one leg of the U-t-ube and a pres- "sure in the other-legthereof,-. and a calibratedscale for registering the differences in thelevels of the measuring liquid in the respective branches of the U-tube.

a measa container adapted to contain a fluid of undetermined viscosity,an inlet pipe, bafile plate against which diver d as it enters thecontainer, and an overflow outlet for the discharge of the excess ofsaid fluid undergoing test, of an outlet pipe, a U-tube adjacent theretowith a measuring liquid therein, the U-tube with the outlet pipe wherebya vacuum is produced in one leg of the U-tube and a pressure in theother leg thereof, and acalibrated scale for registering the differencesin the levels of the measuring liquid fin the presssuremeasuring device.

the incoming fluid is means connecting test, ofran outlet pipe narrowedat it's throat,

a U-tube adjacent thereto with a measuring liquid therein, meansconnecting the 'U-tube with the outlet pipe whereby a vacuum is producedin one leg of the U-tube, and a pressure in the other leg thereof, and acalibrated scale for registering the diiferences in the levels of themeasuring liquid in the respective branches of the U-tube.

5. In a viscosimeter, a container adapted to contain a fluld ofundetermined viscosity, an inlet pipe, baffle plates against which theincoming fluid is diverted as it enters the container, and anoverflowoutlet for the discharge of the excess of said fluid undergoingtest, of an outlet pipe narrowed at its throat, a U-tube adjacentthereto with a measuring liquid there-,

in, means connecting each member of the U- tube with the outlet pipe,whereby a vacuum is produced in one leg of the U-tube and a pressure inthe other leg thereof, and a scale 'for registering the differences inthe measuring liquid in the respectivebranche's of the U-tube. I v

6. In a viscosimeter, the combination with a container adapted tocontain a fluid of undetermined viscosity, an inlet pipe, baflle platesagainst which the incoming fluid is diverted as it enters the container,an overflow outlet for the discharge of any excess of said fluidundergoing test, and a thermometer to measure the temperature of saidfluid, of an outlet pipe narrowed at the throat, a U-tube adjacentthereto with a measuring liquid therein, means connecting each member ofthe U-tube with the outlet pipe whereby a vacuum is produced in one legof the U-tube and a pressure in the other leg thereof, and a scale forregistering the diflerences in the measuring liquid in the respectivebranches of the U-tube.

7. In a viscosimeter, the combination with a container adapted tocontain a fluid of undetermined viscosity, aninlet pipe and an overflowpipe, of an outlet pipe connected with the container and having arestricted areathrough which the material undergoing test is required topass, and a pressure gauge connected to the outlet pipe near the pointof restricted area whereby the viscosity of the passing material isregistered in desired units on the pressure gauge.

8. In a viscosimeter, the combination with a container adapted tocontain a fluid of un determined viscosity, an inlet pipe and anoverflow pipe, of an outlet pipe connected with the container having arestricted area the combination with through which the materialundergoing test is required to pass, and a pressure gauge connected totheoutlet pipe near the point of restricted area whereby the viscosityof the passing material is continuously registered in desired units-onthe pressure gauge. 7

9. In a viscosimeter,

the combination with a container adapted to contain a fluid ofundetermined viscosity, and means for keeping the liquid under constantpressure, of an outlet pipe connected with the contalner and having arestricted area through which the material undergoing test is requiredto pass, and a pressure gauge connected to the outlet pipe near thepoint of restricted area whereby the Viscosity of the passing mate'-rial is registered in desired units on the pressure gauge.

10. In a viscosimeter, means for producing a steady pressure source offluid whose viscosity is to be determined, a pipe to be connected withsaid source having a restricted area through which fluid under test isrequired to pass, and a pressure gauge connected to the outlet pipe nearthe point of restricted area, whereby the viscosity of the passingmaterial is continuously registered in desired units on the pressuregauge.

11.In a viecosimeter, means for producing a source of fluid Whoseviscosity is to be determined, a pipe connected with said source andhaving a restricted area through which fluid under test is required topass,

means for maintaining a pressure of a certain column height of saidfluid in the pipe,-

and a pressure gauge connected to the pipe near the point of restrictedarea, whereby the viscosity of the passing material is continuouslyregistered in desired units on the pressure gauge.

12. In a vis'cosimeter, means for producing a steady pressure source offluid whose viscosity is to be determined, a pipe connected with saidsource and having a restricted area through which the fluid under testis re uired to pass, a U-tube with a measuring llquid therein, onebranch of the U-tube be ing connected adjacent the restricted portionand the other branch at a different position in the pipe, whereby eachleg of the U-tube is subjected to diflerent pressure, and a scaleco-operating with the measuring liquid in the U-tube to give acontinuous viscosity reading.

13. In a viscosimeter, means for producing a source of fiuid'whoseviscosity is to be determined, a pipe connected with said source andhaving a restricted area through which the fluid under test is requiredto pass, means for maintaining a pressure of a certain column height ofsaid fluid in the pipe, a U-tube with a measuring liquid therein, onebranch of the U-tube being connected adjacent the restricted portion andthe other branch at adifi'erent position in the pipe, whereby each legof the U-tubeis subjected to diflerent pressure, and a scaleco-operating with the measuring liquid in the U-tube nected with saidsource and having a re-' 10 stricted area through which the fluid undertest is required to pass, a, pressure gauge; one'side of the gauge beingconnected adjacent the restricted portion and theother side at adifferent position in the pipe, Whereby the different sides of the gaugeare subjected to diiferent pressures, anda s'calercooperating with thegauge to glve a continuous viscosity reading.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

FRANZ P. ZIM RLI.

